The Ford Motor Company has issued a safety recall for its 2025 model-year Ranger. The recall affects over 400 units of the mid-size pickup trucks.

The company says the airbag on the passenger side might not deploy in an accident. This is due to instrument panel components that could affect passenger airbag deployment.

Understanding the Issue

The problem revolves around Yanfeng-supplied instrument panel topper components. These reportedly affected how the passenger airbag deploys.

The issue stems from an incorrect laser scoring process on the underside of the panel. This error may delay airbag inflation. It might even prevent the airbag cushion from deploying from its canister. 

Ford launched an internal investigation in September 2025 after Yanfeng notified the automaker. The automotive supplier said there was an unapproved change in the scoring process. Follow-up testing confirmed that the altered design affected the airbag’s deployment performance. 

According to Ford, a total of 405 trucks are potentially affected by this defect. These are vehicles produced for the U.S. market between September 9 and September 10, 2025. This means the recall is limited but critical in nature. 

How is Ford Responding to the Issue

Ford is advising owners of the affected vehicles to visit the nearest dealership. The company has instructed its technicians to replace the affected instrument panel assemblies. They’ll do this at no cost to customers. The new panels will feature the correct laser scoring pattern. This will ensure proper airbag performance. 

The company is set to send out customer notification letters from October 24 to 25, 2025.

Vehicle owners can check if their trucks are part of the recall. They can do this by entering their 17-character VIN on Ford’s official U.S. consumer website.